Species Bonding
Chimpanzee
genome could reveal how first evolved
The chimpanzee is the second primate after
humans to have its genome sequenced .Comparing it with the human genome could help determine what led to the evolution of humans some six million years ago Since
chimps and humans come from the same stock, their genomes could reveal what sets us apart from other primates, Humans and chimps seem to share 98% of DNA and very few genes have spurred changes that led to us evolving differently .If the similarities are striking the differences are fascinating ,The chimps promiscuity and gene mutation say scientists have rendered five of its 16X chromosome –related genes useless .The Y chromosome in most chimps has suffered fierce
sperm competition from the few
alpha male chimps who often edged out other chimps in the
mating game. Researchers say the competition enables the alpha male produce more and better sperm. The survival of the chimps in terms of natural selection has come to depend upon the virility of the alpha male.
Humans on the other hand have lost none of their X-related genes in the last six million years Were we less promiscuous? Or did our chromosomes behave that way out of sheer chance? That the human mating system did not depend on sperm competition for species survival is itself a revelation probably even then some unique factor began to differentiate us from other primates, However mere inference cannot form scientific theory .Paleontologists studies of human fossils indicate that the practice of human pair bonding between mating couples perhaps evolved only 1.7 million years ago .But the genome studies show that even during the first four million years following the human-chimp diversification ,sperm competition was irrelevant in human mating process .Primatologists aver that our common ancestors might well have seen gorilla-like rather than chimp-like .Or bonobo- like .These questions will continue to intrigue us. What matters is that international research teams engaged in different streams of study—in this case biology, paleontology , mathematics ,IT and evolutionary history—are bringing us closer to understanding our relationship with other species. It is indeed a small world.
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